Boro joining O'Neill chase

The former Celtic manager is now being courted by Middlesbrough as well as Newcastle as the managerial merry-go-round goes into overdrive

STEVE McCLAREN will be the new England coach. That’s the latest word from the bookmakers and the expectation at the Riverside, where Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson is so certain of McClaren’s departure that he is already seeking a successor.

The name at the top of his wish list is likely to cause ruptions with the neighbours though: Martin O’Neill.

The former Celtic manager has been a long-term target of managerless Newcastle, whose expensively assembled squad have been treading water under caretaker boss Glenn Roeder since Graeme Souness’s departure in February. O’Neill had been quickly identified by Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd as the man for the job, but then the England position became available and negotiations with O’Neill stalled.

The word from Newcastle last week was that a new England coach would soon be appointed, enabling the board at St James’ Park to make their move. The FA reiterated yesterday, though,